Clutch assembly tool



Nov. 8, 1949 H. J. YEL-KIN CLUTCH AS SEMBLY. TOOL 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1945 111 rel/tar Herma/2 z/ )fe/fx1 Mu/W Nw, s9 1949 H. J. YELKIN 2,487,504

CLUTCH ASSEMBLY TOOL Filed Dec. 20,. 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I u l'U/ltar Herman cf )n/1b.

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` tle. piot. portion oftilie engine drive shaft 5". The portion 5a is smaller than the portion 5 due to the fact that the opening or bore of hub I5 is always of greater size than the bore of bearing I6. Means, including manually operable handles 6' and 6a at the inner end of the inner portion 5', are provided for independently adjusting the portions 5' and 5a' according to the sizes of the hub and the pilot bearing of the disc I3 and shaft 5, respectively.

The portion 5 preferably consists of a plurality of radially movable segmento-cylindrical sections 1', each having a central longtitudinal inwardly extending radial rib 8. The sections 1' are normally yieldingly contracted by means of a pair of resilient split rings 9 which are seated in spaced circumferential grooves I' provided in the outer surfaces of the sections 1'. Cones II and I2 are disposed at opposite ends of the sections 1 and disposed to face toward each other. The ends of the ribs 8' are beveled in inwardly converging relation as shown in Figure 3 and are slidably engaged in longitudinal grooves provided at I3' in the conical surfaces of the cones II' and l2'. By slidably disposing the ends of the ribs 8 in the grooves I3', the sections 1' are properly guided and prevented from having circumferential displacement relative to the cones II' and I2'. The cone II' is secured on the outer end of a tubular shaft I4' vthat is disposed axially of the sections 1 and slidably extends through a central bore of the cone I2. The inner end of shaft III' projects beyond the inner end of cone I2 and is externally threaded for adjustable threaded engagement in the hub I5 of handles 6', which hub I5' bears against the inner end of cone I2'. Obviously, by turning hub I5' by means'of handles 6', the shaft I4' may be adjusted longitudinally so as to draw the cone Il toward the cone I2' for expanding the sections 1', or so as to move the cone II' away from the cone I2 and permit the sections 1' to be contracted by the rings 9. Rotation of cone I2' is prevented by means of guide rods I6 secured to cone I2' and slidably extending through cone II', said guide rods being disposed parallel with the shaft I4 and about the latter at points intermediate the ribs 8'. Rods I6 are also disposed inwardly of the sections 'I' as shown in Figure 4.

The portion 5a is smaller than the portion 5', but is constructed in a similar manner to operate in a similar way. The sections of the portion 5a are indicated at 1a, the ribs thereof at 8a, the contracting rings at 9a, the grooves for rings 9a at lila, and the cones at Ila and I2a. Cone Ila is secured on the outer end of a shaft Ilia that is smaller than shaft I4' and slidably extends through cone I2a and shaft I4'. The inner end of shaft Illia projects beyond the inner end of shaft I4' and the hub I5' of handles 6', and is externally threaded for adjustable threaded reception of the hub I5a of handle 6a. Hub I5a abuts the hub I5', and the guide rods IIa are carried by cone I2a and slidably extend through the cone Ila as described with respect to the cones II' and I2' and guide rods I6. The cone I2a is preferably provided at its inner end With an external annular flange I1 that is of the same diameter as the larger end of the cone II' and that abuts the latter and is provided with openings to slidably receive the guide rods I6. Obviously, rotation of hub I5a may draw cone IIa toward cone I2a to expand the sections 1a, or may move cone I Ia away from cone I2a to permit contraction of sections 1a by rings 9c, depending upon the direction of rotation of said hub I5a. It Will be noted that the inner end of hub I5a extends outwardly beyond the threaded inner end portion of shaft I4a and is provided with a relatively large counter bore I8 so as to not interfere with the longitudinal adjustment of shaft I4' with respect to the hubs I5' and 15a.

In using the present tool, the portion 5a is inserted through the hub I5 until it engages in the bearing I6 and the portion 5' engages in the hub I5. The portions 5' and 5a are then expanded to have snug engagement within hub I5 and bearing I6 as shown in Figure 1, so that with the tool held in a horizontal position the hub I5 will be accurately aligned with bearing I6 while the assembly 9 is being bolted to the y Wheel '1. Thus, upon removal of the tool, the pilot portion of the transmission drive shaft may be readily entered into the bearing I5 and the splined portion of said shaft may be readily entered into the hub I5 to facilitate expeditious remounting of the transmission. By reason of the adjustable nature of the portions 5' and 5a, the tool can be effectively employed in connection with motor vehicles Whose pilot bearings and driving disc hubs are of different sizes, thereby rendering it unnecessary to provide a different tool for each particular job. Without a tool of the present kind, the Work of assembling the clutch and remounting the transmission is a tedious and time-consuming one, but With the use of the present tool, the Work may be performed with ease and expeditiously. Minor changes may be made in details of construction such as fall Within the spirit of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a clutch assembly tool, the combination of a tubular shaft having a cone secured on its outer end, a second cone slidable on said shaft inwardly of the first-named cone, an expansible and contractable element embodying segmento-cylindrical sections disposed about said shaft between said cones and having circumferential grooves, resilient split rings seated in said grooves for normally contracting said sections, a handle adjustably threaded onthe inner end of said shaft and having a hub engaged with said second cone, said handle being operable to relatively move the cones to expandand permit contraction of said element, a second shaft slidable in and projecting beyond the ends of said tubular shaft, a third smaller cone secured on the outer end of said second shaft, a fourth smaller cone slidable on the second shaft and abutting the first-named cone, a second expansible and contractable element embodying segmento-cylindrical sections disposed about the second shaft between the third and fourth cones and having circumferential grooves, further resilient split rings seated in the last-named circumferential grooves to normally contract the sections of the second expansible and contractable element, and a second handle adjustably threaded on the inner end of said second shaft and having a hub engaged with the hub of the rstv named handle, said second handle being operable to relatively move the third and fourth cones to expand and permit contraction of said second element, said second element being of smaller diameter than the rst element when said elements are contracted.

l, 2. The construction dened in claim 1, wherein said cones have longitudinal grooves in their conical surfaces. said sections having central 1ongitudinal, inwardly extending ribs provided with beveled ends slidably engaged in said longitudinal grooves of the cones.

3. The construction dened in claim 1, wherein said-cones have longitudinal grooves in their conical surfaces, said sections having central longitudinal inwardly extending ribs provided with beveled ends slidably engaged in said longitudinal grooves of the cones, in combination with guide rods disposed about and parallel with said shafts within each element, said guide rods being secured at corresponding ends to one cone and slidably extending through the other cone.

HERMAN J. YELKIN REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

6 ,Ummm s'rATns PATENTS Number Naine Date Prickett Oct. 1'7, 1922 Elliott Mar. 13,1923 Evans- Sept. 8, 1931 Nelson Jan. 1, 1935 Spase 2.-..' June 23, 1936 Oertel` July '7, 1936 Frisii'lv Jan. 12, 1937 Ho et al Oct. 26, 1937 Spahn Dec. 24, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Sept. 1'7, 1934 

